The subject of this chapter is set forth in the first twelve
chapters of First Kings, and the first ten chapters of Second
Chronicles. The account begins by showing that Solomon came near losing
the throne and his life through a conspiracy of his older brother
Adonijah, who, being the oldest living son of David, claimed the right
to the throne, and was supported in this claim by such men as Joab and
the high priest Abiathar. This conspiracy was undertaken before David's
death, and he was supposed to be so decrepit that he could not
interfere. But he was aroused to activity by the combined efforts of
the prophet Nathan and the mother of Solomon, and the conspiracy was
nipped in the bud by the immediate anointing of Solomon.

The young king's choice of wisdom, when God gave him his choice as
to what should be given him, is the key-note of the earlier part of his
reign, and it brings into startling contrast the apostasy which
characterized the last few years of his life. The chief event of his
reign is the erection of the temple which replaced the old Tent of
Meeting erected by Moses. This brought to an end, at least among the
faithful, the irregular worship that had prevailed ever since the
capture of the ark by the Philistines, and it enabled the priests to
subsequently conduct the services according to all the provision of the
law.

After building the temple, and also a magnificent palace for
himself, Solomon proceeded to inaugurate a complete system of
fortification at strategic points in his kingdom, so that one or more
of these would confront an enemy from whatever point he might attempt
to march an invading army toward Jerusalem. It was probably this wise
precaution, together with an alliance by marriage with the reigning
king of Egypt, that preserved his kingdom in peace throughout his long
reign of forty years.

The literary activity which had sprung into being in the reign of
David, reached its culmination in that of Solomon. He himself took the
lead in it, by writing many poems and proverbs, and by discoursing on
nearly all subjects which are now grouped under the general title of
Natural History. Biographical writing was also cultivated, and the
prophets, Nathan, Ahijah and Iddo are mentioned as writers of this
class.

Solomon was the first king of Israel to engage in commerce, and
especially in the mining of the precious metals, which he found in rich
abundance in a region called Ophir, whose mines were soon exhausted so
that the place itself has ceased to be known. These enterprises brought
him in contact with the outside world, and he became by far the most
famous king who at any time reigned in Israel. His wealth bred a
fondness for magnificence, and this led him to multiply wives, horses
and chariots, and these again to complicity with the worship of idols.

The prosperity of the kingdom under Solomon, as it was very largely
secured by oppressive levies upon the working classes of his subjects,
wrought out its own destruction, as the historian proceeds to relate
after Solomon's death. The people petitioned his son and successor to
lessen the burdens imposed by the father; he answered them
contemptuously, and ten of the tribes, under the leadership of
Jeroboam, a bold man of the tribe of Ephraim, revolted and set up a
rival kingdom. Once more was Israel taught that national prosperity
was to be secured only by strict adherence to the will of God {3}.

{3} The conduct of Ahijah the Prophet (1 Kings 11:29-35) in encouraging Jeroboam to revolt, indicates the feeling on the part of the prophets that the interests of true religion required a simpler form of national life than the splendors of Solomon's reign encouraged.--W.